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Man Found In Possession Of Imitation Firearm To Appear In Nenagh Court Today.

A man, understood to be in his 20’s, is due in appear court this morning, charged in connection with the possession of an imitation firearm in a “public place”, and on a train in Co Tipperary.

The man was arrested after he was searched by gardaí and plain clothes officers on the train close to Templemore railway station on Friday evening last.

He was questioned at a Garda Station in Co. Tipperary and has since been charged to appear before Nenagh District Court this morning.

The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for, where a person, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the onus of proving which shall lie on him or her), has a realistic imitation firearm with him or her in any “public place”, that person shall be guilty of an offence.

A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable as follows:
(1) On summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both.
(2) On conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
(3) In this section “public place” includes any train, vessel or vehicle used for the carriage of persons for reward, any highway and any other premises or place including any club premises.

Thurles Resident Accused Of Assault On Cork Taxi Driver Served With Book Of Evidence.

Mr Mark Beresford, aged 29 years, with an address at No. 41 Gortataggart, Thurles, Co. Tipperary has been served with a book of evidence, by Garda Daniel Murray.

Mr Beresford stands accused of fracturing the cheek of 52-year-old Cork taxi driver, latter named as Cork resident, Mr Willy Lufuluabo, more than two years ago, on May 1st, 2021, at Curraheen Road, Bishopstown, Co. Cork.

The taxi driver had reportedly picked up the accused at Co. Cork’s Kent Station, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, before driving, as directed, to Mitchelstown. Close to Mitchelstown the driver was asked to return to Curraheen Road, Bishopstown, a distance of some 59km from where initially directed. Here the driver was asked to stop and the alleged assault was carried out. The taxi driver was punched several times in the face, with the assailant stating that this was not where they had asked him to go and that he, the assailant, now wanted to be brought to Thurles, Co. Tipperary, a distance of some 123km from Bishopstown.

On the application of Sergeant Pat Lyons, Mr Justice Olann Kelleher sent the case forward from Cork District Court to the next sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court, commencing on October 23rd next.

Initially, having read the medical report on the taxi driver’s injuries, Mr Justice Colm Roberts had previously refused to accept jurisdiction; stating the case was too serious and was a matter for trial by Judge and Jury.

Man Arrested In Templemore Railway Station, Found In Possession Of Imitation Firearm.

A man, understood to be aged aged in his 20s, was taken into Garda custody in Co Tipperary yesterday, after he was found to be in possession of what is now believed to be an imitation firearm, observed on the Dublin to Cork train near Thurles.

Gardaí were alerted and responded to the incident on the train at Templemore Railway Station in Tipperary at 6:50pm on Friday evening last.

Reports suggest that the male had been observed on the train with a firearm. Local uniform and plainclothes Gardaí initially attended the scene, assisted by the Armed Regional Support Unit. The male was quickly identified and searched by Gardaí, who found the man to be in possession of what is now believed to be an imitation firearm, subject to a proper technical examination.

The man was arrested for questioning in connection with the incident, under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. Further investigations are now continuing.

It should be noted that here in Ireland, where a person, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the onus of proving which shall lie on him or her), has a realistic imitation firearm with him or her in any public place, that person shall be guilty of an offence.

Thurles Resident Receives Suspended Sentence Following Assault On Elderly Pensioner.

A former resident of Croke Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary has avoided an eight month prison sentence, following an assault which occurred at an acute psychiatric unit, on 81 year old patient Mr Gearoid McHugh, leaving latter victim with a brain injury.

Thirty four year old, Mr Brendan McCormack appeared before Ennis Circuit Court, having previously pleaded guilty to the single charge of assault.

Mr Justice Francis Comerford, in sentencing, stated that he accepted that Mr McCormack was struggling from a psychotic episode, when he punched Mr McHugh, while in the acute psychiatric unit, at Ennis General Hospital, on April 24th, 2019 last.
Mr McCormack was only in the acute psychiatric unit some three hours previously, having been brought there by Gardaí as an involuntary admission, and prior to the assault taking place.

Mr McHugh with an address at Quin, Co Clare, was already extremely ill, prior to the assault and sadly passed away almost 5 weeks later, on May 28th, 2019.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Comerford stated that it had not been established that there was any acceleration brought about leading to the death of Mr McHugh, as a result of the single blow from Mr McCormack.

Judge Comerford, however, did imposed an eight month suspended prison term on Mr McCormack, with the condition that he remain under the care of his local mental health services and absent himself from the continuous use of both illegal drugs and alcohol.

In terms of mitigation Judge Comerford stated that there was no premeditation, no weapon and it was a single blow.

Man Charged With Murder of Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Soldier.

A man has been arrested and charged with murder, following the death of a Tipperary man, at his home in west London last weekend.

Mr James ‘JJ’ Donnelly aged 45, and a native of Childers Park, Thurles, Co Tipperary was located dead at his home in Station Road, Hayes, Hillingdon, London, after police were called to his address, around 10:00am on Saturday July 15th last.

We understand Mr Donnelly was located at the address with a slash wound, before being pronounced dead at the scene.

Following the discovery, police officers arrested a man a short time later, named as Mr Leo Price, with an address at Blair Close, Uxbridge, on suspicion of his murder.

The 22-year-old accused was taken to a west London police station where he was later charged with one count of murder and three counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

The deceased Mr Donnelly is a former member of the Irish army and served as a peace keeper overseas.